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Monday, August 31, 2009

****THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. THANKS FOR PLAYING**** WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.

It's time for another Eggface giveaway! A chance to win a GIANT 5 lb. tub of my favorite Max Protein Powder!!!

I heart Max Protein. It's made my post weight loss surgery journey more pleasurable. It took me months of tasting (err gagging on) some pretty gnarly shakes before I found my Max Protein oasis. It's literally the BEST Protein Shake you will EVER try. It's a pleasure to drink! I know... crazy huh? A pleasure to drink your protein shake. It can be.

Let it sit for three or so minutes (it pulls away from the sides) before tipping the cake onto a plate. Yields 4-5 slices. I topped my slice with Sugar Free Land o Lakes Whipped Cream and a drizzle of Smucker's Sugar Free Hot Fudge Sauce. Heaven.

I know, I know Eggy shut up already and tell me how I can win a giant 5 lb. tub of Max Protein Powder.

How to enter: Just leave a comment (include your name and an email addy) on this blog posting by Friday, September 11th, midnight (Pacific time) and sometime Saturday the 12th. I'll draw a name using a random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog! You'll have a week to contact me or another winner will be chosen.

One COMMENT ENTRY per person. Remember blog comments are moderated so there will be a slight delay in seeing your comment post.

***Want extra chances to win?*** Do anything listed below and leave me a comment letting me know what you did! For up to four more entries per person!!

Disclaimers: this contest is open to anyone in the 48 contiguous states ('cause I am too cheap to mail elsewhere) Prize: 1 - 5 lb. Tub of Max Protein in either of their yummy new flavors Cookies & Cream or Chocolate Mint (2 winners - sorry choice of winner's protein flavor is mine)

Can't wait to see if you win the giveaway to try Max? I understand. Life is too short to drink or eat anything that tastes like a monkey's ass (I'm embroidering that on a tea towel or something) Just click on this link and at checkout enter the coupon code: eggface to receive 20% off your purchase.

Shelly's Max Chocolate Mint Mocha Protein Shake

Are you a business that wants to sponsor an Eggface swag giveaway? Contact Michelle at socalshell@aol.com

I make my own flavored yogurt. Way more protein, less carbs, and you control the sugar grams...

Shelly's (Fill in the Blank) Flavored Yogurt

3 1/2 oz. Fage Greek Yogurt (1/2 a container. I use 2%, they have 0% too)1 Tablespoon or so of ANY flavor Sugar Free Torani Syrup (this time I used SF Raspberry - on sale now)

Mix till combined. I sprinkle some cereal or granola on top for a little crunch. You can top with fresh or defrosted frozen fruit. If you want fruity chunky yogurt drop everything plus some frozen or fresh fruit in a mini food processor and whiz till smooth. This makes a GREAT dip for sliced apples too.

You guys know I'm 50% Italian (Sicilian) and I love to start my day with those flavors. My favorite eggs...

Melt butter in a non stick pan. Beat eggs with salt and pepper. Pour eggs into pan. Stir eggs until very loosely set and slightly runnier than you like them. Drizzle pesto on eggs. Give eggs a few more stirs enough to finish cooking them and to distribute pesto in dark green streaks. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

I shared this Breaky Pecky with my Mum... she's a Brit (my other 50%) and breaky pecky is the name we've called breakfast since I was a kid (still do.)

After breakfast I watered the tomatoes... still a few to come. It's been a GREAT year! and by the time I was done the heat was upon us. Ughhh. I am soooo done with summer. Bring on the crisp nights, smell of cinnamon, pumpkins, colored leaves, sweaters... I look way hotter in sweaters ;)

Friday, August 28, 2009

If you aren't familiar with my "Bites" I have 40 or so different versions both meat and vegetarian. Think crustless quiche.

They make a great weight loss surgery friendly breakfast, lunch, dinner or party appetizer! One of the first things to go on a buffet... kids love them too 'cause they are so darn cute! They freeze well. Defrost in fridge & reheat in oven or toaster oven. Can be microwaved too. Oodles of protein and super yummy!!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

I love bean salads. They are great to have in the fridge when you want a quick side dish or a yummy protein packed snack. They travel well so perfect for hauling to the park or beach and since there is no mayo, no risk of spoilage.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

One of my favorite snacks is steamed Edamame (young green soybeans.) You know those yummy beans they give you in sushi restaurants. I buy frozen bags of them (in the shell) and nuke them in this groovy gadget for 2 minutes, sprinkle them with salt and gobble them up. Oodles of protein and soooo yummy. Plus they are fun to eat.

My dehydrator has been going non stop... taking advantage of all the super cheap summer produce and the trees in my yard have been helping too. My Asian Pear tree was ready for picking so I dried those this weekend. I made 3 different batches of granola too. Wanna see?

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Hit the Farmer's Market on Saturday and stocked up of the summer's best fruits and veggies. This week's haul: squash, peaches, plums, corn, strawberries, blueberries, onions, greens, cucumbers, grapes. Excited to come up with some new recipes to use them all. The market was crazy busy this week. So happy to see everyone supporting their local farmers & farms. Want to find a Farmer's Market or CSA in your area. Click on this link to search by zip code.

Also stocked up on my favorite olive oil from The Temecula Olive Oil Co. If you haven't done an olive oil tasting seek one out and do it. It's really a neat experience. Amazing the difference when an olive is picked can make... same olive, different times totally different flavor.

Went on a 4 hour hike in the local mountains which totally wiped me out. Normally this wouldn't wipe me out but the humidity has been gnarly this weekend. Odd weather for Southern California. So not only was I wiped out but I was having a bad hair day. Curly Hair + 74% Humidity = Electric Shock Victim meets Medusa.

When I finally mustered up some energy I grilled a batch of zucchini, loaded up my super cool bento box and ate dinner at the park...

Friday, August 21, 2009

These were two super side dishes to these new yummy BBQ'd burgers I found at Costco.

In the first I used pre-cooked lentils from Trader Joe's (find in the refrigerator section) but you could just cook dry ones and chill. Lentils are especially good for post-op gastric bypass people... high in protein, iron, B1.

The second took advantage of the great summer cucumbers I keep getting at the Farmer's Market. It's best made a few hours ahead so the cucumbers soften slightly, everything chills and the flavors have time to love on one another.

I found them at Costco (I understand Sam's Club carries them too) and I am in love. Soooo easy to prepare. Fully cooked (grilled) all you need to do is heat and eat. Which usually means they will be tough and dry... not these. They are super moist... which is mucho mucho importante for post-op eating. They are one of the best burgers I have eaten. Seriously.

Calories 280 Protein 25 g (per patty not including cheese)

I BBQ'd them 5 minutes on one side (lid down) flip, add cheese & 4 more minutes. You can also nuke 'em or toss them in a pan.

Both of these side dishes were YUM! "Side dishes" always makes me think of Cartman.

Crush Sugar Free Cookies and add enough SF Syrup to make it clump. I needed about 8 cookies and 1 Tablespoon of Syrup. Place food ring on a plate. Fill base with cookie mixture and press to cover bottom (about 1/2 to 1 inch high) I'm thinking protein bars would work for the base too.

Fill with Protein Ice Cream you get right out of the machine (soft serve stage)

Cover with plastic wrap and freeze till hard.

Unmold. I used a warm (nuked 20 seconds) damp dish towel to warm sides and the ring just lifts off.

Decorate if desired. I nuked some Sugar Free Hot Sauce and went to town but you could use fresh or frozen fruit or nuts. My cake made 4 big wedges. Great for a post-op birthday celebration.

Mix together milk, protein, pudding mix, bean scrapings (little black seeds inside the bean) and syrup. I used this gadget to mix it up. It makes it airy and lump free. If you don't have one just toss it in a blender on super high. You want it fluffy almost double in size. Pour into ice cream maker. Follow your machine's instructions for freezing. You can eat it right away it is soft serve-ish (use for Protein Ice Cream Cake making) if you want scoops put it in the freezer to set for an hour.

I made a double batch. When you double protein ice cream don't bother doubling the protein. Supposedly we only absorb so much and the rest would be a waste ;)

In a mini food processor (A post-op MUST have) whiz dressing ingredients till smooth. Great as a salad dressing or a dip for veggies or steak.

A word on using storebought sauces (BBQ, ketchup, hot sauces, mayo, etc.) I use the real deal. Not Sugar Free, Not Fat Free. Nothing special just the same old stuff I used before surgery. The difference is post weight loss surgery I don't slather. I use a very small amount so I still get the taste I'm longing for without the dumping syndrome or extra unneeded calories.

Here's my 2.5 cents on Sugar Free and Fat Free condiments... most taste like crud and add stuff that is equally as bad for you so why not have the real deal (in moderation) and enjoy. Life is too short to eat anything that tastes like a monkey's ass.

Slice apples crosswise (if you are making it for you and some whippersnappers be sure to tell them the Apple Star Story as you cut the apple.)

Rub with lemon to prevent browning.

Spread with peanut butter (or one of the other sticky suggestions) and sprinkle with toppings. Mine are the starred * items.

I made 3: a plain peanut butter, a PB&J with peanut butter and Smucker's Simply Fruit Strawberry and a peanut butter topped with some of my semi homemade granola. They are pretty filling. I cut them in 1/2 and shared them.

My food dehydrator was working overtime this weekend. I dried Kale into Kale Chips, Pineapple, Figs, Cherries, Peaches, Strawberries, Bananas. I used some of the yummy dried fruits I made to make a very uninteresting bag of No Sugar Added Granola super interesting.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Snobby foodies be damned. Old school casseroles rock. Listen I enjoy Kobe Beef and Kurobuta Ham too but casseroles well... they just rock. Yep, canned soup and American cheese. I would have used Cheez Whiz (for a "whiz wit" my Philadelphia pals will know what I mean) if I had it in the house but the singles diced worked out fine.

Had a super fun weekend with my sis and her "husband" David (28 years together but no paperwork dealio) but you know entertaining is tiring... lots of cooking and laughing. Last night after everyone was gone I needed an easy and comforting dish. This was just what the doctor ordered.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Breakfast: I've been adding a dollop of cottage cheese to my smoothies lately not only is it a little added protein but it thickens the smoothies. Even if you hate cottage cheese try it this way. I promise you can't tell it's in it and the texture thing which is what most people dislike is gone.

and a couple of Shelly's Fudgy Chocolate Protein Balls I made these at 3AM when Insomnia reared its ugly head. They freeze great by the way. Just take a couple out into the fridge to defrost when you are needing a chocolate fix.

Thread items onto bamboo skewers. Repeat until you’ve run out of skewers or ingredients. Drizzle skewers with pesto sauce nuke it for a few seconds to thin it out and sprinkle with Kosher salt and a few twists of black pepper.

I used the starred items in my skewers last night. The cherry tomatoes are from my garden and were just picked a few minutes before making the skewers still warm from the day's sun. One of life's little pleasures.

About Me

I had my guts rearranged (aka Weight Loss Surgery, RNY gastric bypass surgery June 2006) This blog is basically me rambling about my world. I also post recipes that I've adapted to make weight loss surgery friendly.
I love to cook.
I have always loved to cook. It's my creative outlet. I was scared that having weight loss surgery would put an end to my days in the kitchen but happily it did not. I actually get to be even more creative by analyzing a favorite recipe and seeing where I can make changes to make a healthier version of a pre-op favorite.